Ukraine updates: Germany spent €2.24 billion on military aid

Germany's government gave the greenlight to arms exports amounting to at least €8.9 billion ($8.48 billion) this year, making it the second-highest annual figure ever, according to the German Economy Ministry following a request from Left Party (Die Linke) lawmaker Sevim Dagdelen.

Over a quarter of the weapons and military equipment sent during the course of the year has gone to Ukraine as it battles Russia's invasion.

Germany's coalition government had sought to reduce exports of arms after coming to power but had to change tack after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

In the face of severe criticism over the country's postwar policy of not providing lethal aid to conflict zones, the Scholz administration announced a reversal of that policy as part of the country's military and security politics "Zeitenwende" or "turning point" announced shortly after the invasion began.

Germany has made deliveries worth €2.24 billion including anti-aircraft tanks, multiple rocket launches, the IRIS-T air defense system and self-propelled howitzers, among other pieces of military equipment.

The official figures are expected to be announced in January.

Separately, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the chairwoman of the parliamentary defense committee, told German news agency RND that the federal government needed to have a better strategy in place to deal with what was happening in Ukraine.

Strack-Zimmerman also questioned the wisdom of not sending battle tanks to help Ukraine and said the decision was "not only incomprehensible, it is alarmingly short-sighted."

'Over 4,500' cyberattacks since start of war — Ukrainian cybersecurity chief

There have been over 4,500 cyberattacks in Ukraine since the start of Moscow's invasion, according to Ukraine's intelligence service.

Ukrainian cybersecurity chief Ilya Vityuk said in televised comments that Russia has been carrying out "on average more than ten cyberattacks per day."

According to Vityuk, Russia's main targets were the energy sector, logistics, military facilities and government databases.

The cybersecurity chief said that Kyiv has been grappling with such attacks for eight years and that it was well prepared against them.

Lavrov issues ultimatum

According to the Russian state-run Tass news agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine must meet Moscow's demands or else the matter will be decided by Russian forces.

"Our proposals for the demilitarization and denazification of the territories controlled by the regime, the elimination of threats to Russia's security emanating from there, including our new lands, are well known to the enemy," Lavrov reportedly said late Monday.

"The point is simple: fulfill them for your own good. Otherwise, the issue will be decided by the Russian army," Lavrov added.

He also accused the West and Ukraine of having a "strategic goal" with that being "to defeat Russia on the battlefield as a mechanism for significantly weakening or even destroying our country."

Family of 8 killed in robbery in Luhansk region

A family of eight was killed in a robbery in the Russian-occupied village of Makiyivka in the eastern Luhansk region of Ukraine, Ukrainian and Russian media reported.

Cash, mobile phones and a car were taken in the attack. Four children were among those killed, according to reports.

Russia's state news agency TASS said that tree suspects have been arrested. Ukrainian media claims that the suspects are member of the Wagner mercenary group.